Moloka'i Youth Learn Opportunities in Aviation
KAUNAKAKAI
- (John Gleeson and Lei Buse, Moloka'i Advertiser-News October 5,
2005)
Saturday,
September 24, 2005, was a memorable day for the Island of Moloka'i.
It was the 1st day in the history of this beautiful Island that the
Youth of Moloka'i were given the opportunity to become acquainted
with many career opportunities in the field of aviation. Lei
Buse of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and John Gleeson
(60 years of aviation experience) orchestrated this successful
function by coordinating this volunteer-driven event with many
experts in the field of aviation.
Molokai Air Shuttle (Photo Susan
Peabody, MAN 2005)
Joe Liu of the
FAA spoke about his exciting 19-year career as an Air Traffic
Control Specialist at the Honolulu Control Facility, Honolulu
International Airport. Na'i McCarthy, a Flight Attendant for 31
years with Aloha Airlines, talked story with the 30 plus youngsters,
parents, school counselors, and teachers about her rewarding career
as a Flight Attendant.
Retired Hawaiian
Airlines Captain (Capt.) and long time Hawaii Aviation Guru, Tom
Moss, spoke about the opportunities available to the youth of today
in the Airline Industry. Capt. Moss also elaborated on the
wonderful programs dealing with all facets of Aviation and Aerospace
in the Civil Air Patrol. Four Civil Air Patrol Cadets form the
Wheeler Squadron answered many questions from the 30 plus youth
pertaining to the many career building activities available in the
Civil Air Patrol. Ground is being broken in an effort to
initiate a Civil Air Patrol Squadron on the Island of Moloka'i.
Colonel Jeff Stickle, Wing Commander of the Hawaii Civil Air Patrol
Wing, has expressed his interest in this effort.
Ralph Hiatt,
Director, Pacific Aerospace Training Center, Honolulu Community
College, presented many interesting facts about the classes offered
in Honolulu in the areas of Aircraft Mechanics, Airline Dispatcher
and Professional Pilot. These career paths are provided along
with a four year or two year college degree.
Most of the young
people in attendance were treated to an Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA), Young Eagles Flight in aircraft provided by,
Moloka'i Air Shuttle (Pilot, Henry Younge III), Flight School Hawaii
(Pilot, Stan Gapol), Moore Air/Flight School (Pilot, Joe Kiefer),
QID Aviation Services (Pilot, Garrick Shimabukuro), JE Merk &
Associates (Pilot, Eliot Merk). Three Civil Air Patrol
Aircraft flown by pilots from the Wheeler Civil Air Patrol Squadron
were on the Flight Line as well as three Aircraft from the Pacific
Aerospace Flight School as static displays.
Chevron and Air
Service Hawaii provided aviation fuel for the event to assist the
Young Eagles
|
Young Eagles Flight (Photo Susan
Peabody, MAN 2005)
|
Aviation Day Participants (Photo
Susan Peabody, MAN 2005) |
The excellent
assistance from Carl Brito, Maintenance Supervisor of the State,
Department of Transportation, for the Ho'olehua Airport; Rick
Baptiste, FAA Control Tower Manager; TSA & Wackenhut (Security),
plus the Ohana of Moloka'i made this event the outstanding success
that it was. Many youngsters had the opportunity to learn
about careers totally unknown to them. These careers are
available to every youngster that will make the effort to achieve.
There are programs, organizations and scholarships that need to be
explored, with the help of their parents, schools and dedicated
adults.
A similar event
is tentatively scheduled for the spring/summer of 2006.
Mahalo to The
Cookhouse, Rawlins Chevron, Moloka'i Pizza Café, Curtis Crabbe, and
the parents who provided food and refreshments for the event.
Organizers of the event (left to right):
Lei Buse, Joe Liu, John Gleeson, Na'i McCarthy
(Photo Susan Peabody, MAN 2005)
